Integrally molded plastic cover and hinge

ABSTRACT

1,141,771. Hinges. CORNELIUS CO. 18 Feb., 1966 [23 April, 1965], No. 6856/66. Heading B5A. [Also in Divisions A4, B8 and E2] A combined cover and hinge for a refrigerator cabinet is formed as a unitary plastics moulding, e.g. of polypropylene, and includes a flexible web 34 integrally connected at opposite sides to a rigid cabinet cover 19 and a rigid, hollow mounting block 21 which is apertured for passage of securing screws and has an upper surface 31 forming a stop for the fully opened lid. As moulded, the wall 25 of the cover is parallel to the wall 31. While hot, the web is flexed several times to orientate the material, and the device is then cooled in a fixture which holds the cover and block in the position in which the cover will close the open end of the cabinet so that internal stresses are set up in the web which increase as the cover is opened. These stresses, reinforced by the weight of the cover, hold the cover in tightly closed position on the cabinet and are overcome by gravity when the cover is fully opened through a vertical position to abut the surface 31. The cover is recessed internally to receive insulation 23 and the walls 16 of the cabinet have a breaker strip 18 and liners 15 enclosing insulation 17.

J 1967 R. 'r. CORNELIUS INTEGRALLY MOLDED PLASTIC COVER AND HINGE Filed April 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RICHARD 7T CORNELIUS 1967 T. CORNELIUS INTEGRALLY MOLDED PLASTIC COVER AND HINGE Filed April 23, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I INVENTOR.

AWCf/Aflfl 7 0091 42/05 44%, w, W fiflw Y m ATTOR EEYS United States Pate'nt O T 3,301,430 INTEGRALLY MOLDED PLASTIC COVER AND HINGE Richard T. Cornelius, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to The Cornelius Company, Anoka, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Apr. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 450,478 11 Claims. (Cl. 22031) This invention relates generally to a cabinet construction, and more specifically to a plastic cover having a hinge integral therewith.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various devices, a particularly useful application is made in a cabinet or chest that employs or provides an upwardly directed opening, such as a refrigerated cabinet.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of a substantially rigid cover and a substantially rigid hinge block which are integrally joined to each other by a flexi ble web which serves as a hinge. The mounting block also serves as a stop for limiting the extent of angular cover movement. All of these elements are molded as a single unit from plastic, and preferably the as-molded condition of the hinge structure corresponds to substantially the open position of the hinge.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive combined cover and hinge structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover or door which is molded of plastic in such a manner that the angular travel thereof is both enabled and limited.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a hinge which includes a flexible hinge so constructed that its internal flexing stresses either tend to hold the cover shut or tend to hold the cover open, and preferably further that the mass of the open or shut cover overcomes such stresses to hold the cover respectively open or shut.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hinge and stop arrangement which includes a flexible hinge so constructed that internal stresses tending to close the cover are overcome by the mass of the cover when the cover has been opened and pivoted to a point beyond center for engagement with stop structure.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view, partly in cross-section, of a refrigerated chest or cabinet having a combined cover or door and hinge arrangement provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the hinge structure, partly in cross-section, illustrating the as-molded configuration thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the structure shown in FIG. 3, illustrating the as-closed configuration thereof; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the hinge structure of FIG. 3, illustrating the as-opened configuration thereof.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in a chest or cabinet such as illustrated in FIG. 1, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The cabinet includes a front wall 11, a pair of side walls 12, 13, and a rear wall 14, the latter being illustrated in crosssection.

3,301,430 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 Each of the walls 11-13 is constructed in the manner illustrated for the wall 14 which includes a liner 15, an outer jacket 16, and suitable insulation of a rigid type 17 therebetween. The upper edges of the elements -17 are enclosed by a breaker strip 18 which overlies the walls 11-14 to define an upwardly directed opening that is closed by a cover, generally indicated at 19, and provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The cover 19 includes a cover portion 20, a pair of mounting blocks 21, 21, and a web portion 22 for each mounting block.

The cover 19, comprising the cover portion 20, mounting block or blocks 21, and web portion 22, is a unitary single element molded from plastic wherein such elements 20 and 21 are integral with the web portion 22. The cover portion 20 is molded with a suitable recess into which suitable insulation 23 is subsequently added, such recess being indicated at 24.

The cover 19 comprises plastic, polypropylene being a preferred type of plastic. The cover portion 20 and the block portions 21 have such configuration and plastic thickness as to render such portions substantially rigid, while, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the web portion 22 is of such reduced thickness as to render the plastic material flexible, the flexible portion being in the nature of a web.

The cover portion 20 at its outer edges has a transversely extending flange, normally directed in a downward direction in a surrounding relation to the upper end of the walls 11-14, and in particular, has a flange 25 at its 'rear edge, the web portion 22 being integral with the lower edge of such flange 25. The flange 25 is also substantially rigid.

Each of the mounting block portions 21 of the cover 19 has a mounting surface 26, disposed against the outside of the rear wall 14. The mounting block 21 is generally rectangular throughout its length, but hollow, and is provided with a pair of apertures 27 through which mounting screws 28 project. The elongated generally rectangular nature of the mounting block 21 may be seen in FIG. 2, and in dashed lines in FIG. 3, the surface against which the heads of the screws 28 bear is shown at 29. At opposite ends of the generally rectangular configuration, each of the blocks 21 is enlarged in a hollow manner as at 30, 30 to provide a normally upwardly directed stop surface 31 against which the flange 25 may abut at a point of engagement to limit the angular travel or opening of the cover portion 20.

The web portion 22 preferably extends along the entire length of the mounting block 21, and as stated above, is integral therewith. A corresponding length of the web portion22 is integral with the lower edge of the flange 25. The web thickness is preferably rather heavy along the lines of juncture with the flange 25 and the block 21, and tapers as shown at 32 and 33 to a relatively thin web portion 34 which typically may have a thickness on the order of .010 inch, the flange 25 being several times thicker. A typical length for the Web portion 22 and the block 21 is between 4 and 5 inches. The use of two spaced blocks 21 as shown in FIG. 2 minimizes any tendency for tearing stresses to be applied to the thinnest portion 34. The dimensions given are representative and provide the necessary flexibility and durability.

In the manufacture of the combined cover and hinge structure 19, the portions 20, 21, and 22 are molded in the relative relationship illustrated in FIG. 3. The surface 26 is vertical, it can be seen that the as-molded configuration comprises or defines the position of the cover portion 20 when it extends substantially parallel to the surface 26, and thus comprises an open position.

The'combined cover and hinge structure 19 is removed from the mold while hot and while in the relative rela- 3 tionship illustrated in FIG. 3. Immediately, the plastic hinge is allowed to cool in the as-molded position.

Alternatively, the hinge 22'is flexed one to four times to orient the materials. Such flexure is preferably between the positions illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Thereafter, the combined cover and hinge structure 19, before it has appreciably cooled, is placed on a cooling fixture (not shown) which holds the combined cover and hinge structure 19 in what is to be later the normally closed position. Generally, this corresponds to that shown in FIG. 4. The cover portion 20 is of rather light weight, but it has sufficient mass to hold the cover in a tightly closed position as shown in FIG. 1. The cooling fixture (not shown) may be constructed so that the angle between the mounting surface 26 and the bottom of the cover portion 20 is less than 90.

Upon assembly into the relationship shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, stresses are applied to the web portion 34 which act in conjunction with the weight of the cover 20 to hold the same tightly shut, or alternatively, to slightly offset the weight. As the cover portion 20 is tilted between the closed position shown in FIG. 4 and the fully open position shown in FIG. 5, flexing stresses build up or are relieved, particularly in the thinnest portion 34 of the web portion 22, and are spread to some extent by the tapered portions 32 and 33. Once the center of mass of the cover portion 20 passes over the effective center of the web hinge 34, there begins to develop an effective moment arm on which such mass acts, thereby producing a gradually increasing torque which tends to open the cover further. The cover mass, the location of the stop surface 31, and the internal stresses in the web portion 34 are so related that any spring-like tendency of the web 34 to close the cover is completely overcome by the mass of the cover creating a greater torque in the opposite direction prior to the limiting of opening movement of the cover.

Thus, the cover portion 20 may be moved in an opening direction until the flange 25 abuts the surfaces 31 of the stop portions 30 to preclude further angular movement of the cover, such abutment occurring after the cover portion 20 has been moved angularly over center by a distance suflicient to overcome the cover-closing tendency produced by the internal stresses in the web portion 34.

The openings 27 in the block portions 21 are slightly elongated in a vertical direction, as installed in FIG. 1, so that the cover portion 20 may rest on the entire length of the breaker strip 18, even of the screws 28 are not located accurately vertically.

By the disclosed and claimed structure, a highly advantageous hinge arrangement is provided which is simple to manufacture and install, and by which savings in cost are effected.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combined cover and hinge for selectively closing and exposing an opening in a cabinet, comprising:

a unitary device of molded plastic, including (a) a substantially rigid cover portion;

(b) an elongated substantially rigid mounting block portion, and

(c) a flexible web portion integrally joined to said cover portion and to said mounting block portion along opposite edges of said web portion; said web portion having an as-molded' configuration conforming to an open position of said cover portion with respect to the cabinet opening.

2. A combined cover and hinge for selectively closing and exposing an opening in a cabinet, comprising;

a unitary device of molded plastic, including (a) a substantially rigid cover portion having a transversely extending rigid flange;

(b) an elongated substantially rigid mounting block portion; and

(c) a flexible web portion integrally joined to said flange and to said mounting block portion along opposite edges of said web portion, said web portion having an as-molded configuration conforming to an open position of said cover portion with respect to the cabinet opening;

(d) said cover portion being pivotable by flexure of said web portion to a limiting position defined by positive engagement between said flange and said mounting block por'tion at a point of con- 7 tact remote from said web portion.

3. A cabinet, comprising:

(a) a pair of side walls, afront wall and a rear wall jointly defining an upwardly directed cabinet opening;

(b) a polypropylene mounting block secured to the outside of said rear wall and disposed slightly below said opening;

(c) a polypropylene cover normally overlying the u er edges of said walls and closing said opening, said cover having a substantially rigid downwardly directed flange integral with the rear edge thereof and directed toward said mounting block;

(d) a polypropylene web having a thickness on the order of .010", and integrally joined to said flange and to said mounting block along opposite edges of said web, said web having internal stresses which increase in response to movement of said cover in a direction away from its normally closed position; and

(c) said flange being engageable with said mounting block remotely from said web in such position as to limit the angular movement of said cover in said direction when the cover-closing tendency of said stresses has been overcome by the mass of said cover tending to move said cover in said direction.

4. A combined cover and hinge for selectively closing and exposing an opening in a cabinet, comprising:

a unitary device of molded plastic, including (a) a substantially rigid cover for normally closing such opening, and having a transversely extending rigid flange,

(b) an elongated substantially rigid mounting block constructed to be secured to the cabinet adjacent to such opening,

(0) a web having such reduced thickness as to render it flexible, and integrally joined to said flange and to said mounting block along opposite edges of said web, said web having internal stresses which increase in response to angular movement of the cover in a direction away from such opening, and

(d) said flange being engageable with said mounting block remotely from said web to limit the angular movement of said cover in said direction when said stresses have been overcome by the mass of said cover tending to move said cover in said direction.

5. A combined cover and hinge for selectively closing and exposing an opening in a cabinet, comprising:

a unitary device of molded plastic, including (a) a substantially rigid cover portion for overlying the cabinet opening,

(b) an elongated substantially rigid mounting block portion, and

(c) a flexible web portion integrally joined to said cover portion and to said mounting block portion along opposite edges of said web portion,

said web having such resiliency and free shape as to have internal stresses which bias said cover portion in a closing direction when said cover portion is in a fully closed position.

6. A combined cover and hinge for selectively closing and exposing an opening in a cabinet, comprising:

a unitary device of molded plastic, including (a) a substantially rigid cover portion,

(b) an elongated substantially rigid mounting block portion, and

(c) a flexible web portion integrally joined to said cover portion and to said mounting block portion along opposite edges of said web portion, said web having internal stresses biasing said cover portion in a closing direction about a horizontal axis, said stresses being of such maximum magnitude as to enable the mass of said cover portion, when moved over center, to apply a torque about said axis to hold said cover portion open.

7. A cabinet, comprising:

(a) a pair of side walls, a front Wall and a rear wall jointly defining an upwardly directed cabinet opening;

(b) a polypropylene mounting block secured to the outside of said rear wall and disposed slightly below said opening;

(c) a poypropylene cover normally overlying the upper edges of said walls and closing said opening, said cover having a substantially rigid downwardly directed flange integral with the rear edge thereof and directed toward said mounting block;

((1) a polypropylene web having a thickness on the order of .010, and integrally joined to said flange and to said mounting block along opposite edges of said web, said web having internal stresses which decrease in response to movement of said cover in a direction away from its normally closed position; and

(c) said flange being engageable with said mounting block remotely from said web to limit the angular movement of said cover in said direction when said stresses are near a minimum.

8. A combined cover and hinge for selectively closing and exposing an opening in a cabinet, comprising:

a unitary device of molded plastic, including (a) a substantially rigid cover for normally closing such opening, and having a transversely extending rigid flange,

(b) an elongated substantially rigid mounting block constructed to be secured to the cabinet adjacent to such opening,

(c) a web having such reduced thickness as to render it flexible, and integrally joined to said flange and to said mounting block along opposite edges of said web, said web having internal stresses which decrease in response to angular movement of the cover in a direction away from such opening, and

(d) said flange being engageable with said mounting block remotely from said web to limit the angular movement of said cover in said direction when said stresses are near a minimum.

9. A combined cover and hinge for selectively closing and exposing an opening in a cabinet, comprising:

7 a unitary device of molded plastic, including (a) a substantially rigid cover portion,

(b) an elongated substantially rigid mounting block portion, and

(c) a flexible Web portion integrally joined to said cover portion and to said mounting block portion along opposite edges of said web portion, said web having such resiliency and free shape as to bias said cover portion in an opening direction when said cover portion is fully closed.

10. A combined cover and hinge for selectively closing and exposing an opening in a cabinet, comprising: a unitary device of molded plastic, including (a) a substantially rigid cover portion,

block portion, and

(b) an elongated substantially rigid mounting (c) a flexible web portion integrally joined to said cover portion aand to said mounting block portion along opposite edges of said web portion, said web having internal flexing stresses, when said cover portion is fully open, which tend to bias said cover portion in a closing direction about a horizontal axis, said stresses being of such maximum magnitude as to enable the mass of said cover portion to apply a torque about said axis to hold said cover portion open.

11. A combined cover and hinge for a cabinet, comprising:

a unitary device of molded plastic, including (a) a substantially rigid cover portion for overlying the cabinet and having a horizontally extending rigid flange lying in a substantially vertical plane when the cover is in a closed position,

(b) an elongated substantially rigid mounting block portion of a configuration enabling it to be secured to the outside of the cabinet, said block having a substantially horizontal stop surface, and

(c) a flexible web portion integrally joined to said flange and to said mounting block portion along opposite edges of said web portion,

(d) said cover portion being pivotable slightly beyond an over-center position, by flexure of said web portion, to a limiting stable position defined by positive engagement between said normally substantially vertical flange and said substantially horizontal stop surface on said mounting block portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,186,574 6/1965 Davidson 16150 X 3,192,556 7/1965 Himelreich 16-150 3,246,792 4/ 1966 Brackmann et al 220-31 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMBINED COVER AND HINGE FOR SELECTIVELY CLOSING AND EXPOSING AN OPENING IN A CABINET, COMPRISING: A UNITARY DEVICE OF MOLDED PLASTIC, INCLUDING (A) A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID COVER POSITION; (B) AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MOUNTING BLOCK PORTION, AND (C) A FLEXIBLE WEB PORTION INTEGRALLY JOINED TO SAID COVER PORTION AND TO SAID MOUNTING BLOCK PORTION ALONG OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID WEB PORTION; SAID WEB PORTION HAVING AN AS-MOLDED CONFIGURATION CONFORMING TO AN OPEN POSITION OF SAID COVER PORTION WITH RESPECT TO THE CABINET OPENING. 